Without injured co-captains Paul Gallen (knee) and Wade Graham (hamstring), the Sharks needed Moylan and fellow off-season recruit Josh Dugan to stand up after losing Luke Lewis to a calf injury in the 13th minute. The pair delivered in arguably their best performances since joining the club to spark the Sharks to a gritty 26-22 win.

The Panthers could be without as many as seven first grade regulars for their clash with the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday, but have still managed to win five of their first six games to sit in equal second on the competition ladder.

Not only is it Penrith's best start to a regular season since 1999, it is also a huge improvement on their dismal 2-7 opening to last year after having been installed as premiership favourite before a ball was kicked.

The match featured some fairly stilted attack and low completion rates – plus high penalty counts – from both teams.

The Eels had no shortage of attacking opportunities and enjoyed the lion's share of the ball but asked very few questions of the Penrith defence, which regularly rushed up to shut down the time Eels halves Corey Norman and Mitch Moses had to look for options.

The strong platform laid by their forwards for the full 80 minutes allowed Maloney to turn up the volume in game control. He scored 21 points out of the Panthers total of 33 through eight goals from eight attempts, a try, and a field goal.

Then you can throw in the two try assists as well.

Griffin was understandably happy with his halfback's performance, especilaly after losing regular No.7 Nathan Cleary to a serious knee just six days earlier.

Merrin defended the club's decisions to let both Cartwright and Matt Moylan go over the summer break, indicating they were not on the same page with the rest of the squad.

Cartwright's exit at the Panthers was considered months in the making, and Merrin said modern day rugby league players were professional enough to adjust to sudden departures and arrivals regardless of when it occurs.

"Within the playing group there is a lot of clarity there," Merrin said ahead of the club's trial with the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old forward revealed he knocked back advice to have shoulder surgery following the NRL Nines in fear he would be forced out of the club with his contract expiring at the end of the 2017 Telstra Premiership.

"It was a niggle all year. I was hoping it healed itself by the end but it never did," Harawira-Naera told NRL.com.

"They said to get it done then but I knew I was coming off contract and asked them to play out the year.